How to Layer your AM and PM Skin Care Routines
Daylight savings time is here, and we all know what that means...we’re about to lose an hour of sleep (*insert tears*). We love our sleep; in fact, we cherish it because we know what lack of sleep means for our skin – dark circles, under-eye bags and stressed-out skin that loves breakouts (oh goodie!). The good news is we’re here to share step-by-step AM and PM skin care routines for a hydrating, glowing, “wow, they look well-rested!” look. And while we’re on the subject, we’ll go ahead and debunk this myth now – your AM and PM skin care routine should be different. Before we get started, it’s important to know your skin type and cater products accordingly. If you’d like more insight, check out our skin care ba(e)sics blog and take our skin quiz!
AM skin care routine
Beyoncé forgot a very important addition in her song, “***Flawless”: “You wake up, *do your AM skin care routine*, flawless.” And even then, still not flawless because... coffee. In the morning, it’s important to focus on protecting skin from pollution, the sun and various light waves that will inevitably come our way throughout the day.
There are important steps for your AM routine that should not be ignored.
Step 1: Cleanse
Because skin recovers overnight, it’s important to cleanse in the morning. When we don’t wash our face in the morning, dust particles and dead skin cells stay in the pores of our skin, which interrupts the breathing of our skin. This can ultimately result in skin problems such as acne, whiteheads, blackheads and more.
Step 2: Serum
We’ve talked before about the importance of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. As a refresher, vitamin C is great for all skin types; it helps skin better retain moisture; it smooths the skin’s surface to reduce dullness for bright skin; it reduces redness; and it boosts collagen production. Hyaluronic acid’s main function is to retain water to keep skin well lubricated. Applying these two items topically with our Vitamin C Serum and Hyaluronic Acid Serum is the most direct way to reap all the benefits for brighter looking skin.
Step 3: Eye Gel
This tip is VERY important to remember: your eyes require more than your daily moisturizer. Because the skin around the eyes is very delicate, extremely thin and lacks oil glands, moisturizing with an eye cream (not just a moisturizer!), is necessary to help restore and rejuvenate this area. Enter – Eye Gel (hello daylight savings time BFF).
Step 4: Moisturize
Moisturizing in the morning is vital because our skin is exposed to a variety of environmental factors that can be harmful to our skin barrier. Whether you are looking for a moisturizer with skin-firming, energizing or youth-preserving qualities, we’ve got you covered.
Step 5: SPF
Sunscreen is a critical final step in your AM skin care routine. Daily SPF not only fights the signs of aging, helps prevent skin cancer and prevents dark spots, SPF also contains anti-inflammatory properties and protects against damaging free radicals. It’s important to remember that SPF is the best skin cancer tool short of avoiding direct sun exposure altogether.
Like we said earlier, we love our sleep! However, it’s important to remember that our skin needs a little TLC (tender love and care) when we wake up. These four steps cannot be skipped in the AM, so now let’s talk about what steps are necessary for the PM.
PM skin care routine
Makeup. Oil. Dirt. Sweat. Germs. There’s a lot that our faces wear throughout the day. When it comes to getting ready for bedtime, it’s easy to wash your face and call it a night. But that’s just step 1. No matter your maintenance level, it’s time to re-evaluate your PM skin care routine and show it some extra time and love.
Step 1: Cleanse
That’s right. Cleanse around the clock! Cleansing removes the day’s dirt, oil, environmental pollutants and debris. If your cleanser does not have makeup removing qualities, dermatologists recommend using micellar water for a powerful yet gentle experience. Some prefer a deeper cleanse in the evening while others prefer a gentle cleanse. No matter your preference, make sure you are opting for a clean, alcohol-free cleanser that does not disrupt your skin’s barrier function.
Step 2: Serum
If you’re an avid retinol user, now would be the right time to apply that Retinol Serum. Our lightweight yet intensive Retinol Serum absorbs quickly into skin, further helping improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, discoloration and hyperpigmentation.
*If you use a prescription nighttime acne cream, it’s best to topically apply the medicine before moisturizing.
Step 3: Eye Cream
Since the skin around our eye is extra delicate, that calls for extra protection! Our eye cream is an ultra-thick and ultra-smooth formula that provides maximum hydration, and helps prevent dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles – all while you are sound asleep! Pretty impressive, right?
Step 4: Moisturize
Follow your nighttime cleanse with a moisturizer to hydrate, repair and smoothen wrinkles. Nighttime moisturizing also improves complexion and betters blood circulation. The nutrients, minerals and hydration in your moisturizer will boost the skin’s nightly rejuvenation process. That being said, a thicker moisturizing cream, like baebody’s Retinol Moisturizer, is great for bedtime application. If you have very sensitive skin, our Collagen Moisturizer would also be a great option.
For added moisture if skin is really dry and needing a boost, nügg Beauty’s Morning Glow mask can be left on overnight. This lightweight, glow-boosting gel formula contains watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid and glacial water infused aloe juice that works while you sleep to reveal supple, glowing morning skin.
Voilà! Crawling into bed never felt cleaner (or better). No matter how tired you might be, these steps will leave you feeling refreshed and renewed. Sweet dreams and skin, right?
Conclusion
No matter how tired you might be, let’s get hype for that AM and PM skin care routine! You have the tips, so now it’s up to you to get the tools and put it into action. Tackle daylight savings time and kiss that lost hour of sleep goodbye because you’ve got this, bae.
